АФРИКАНСКОЕ ТУРНЕ С.В. ЛАВРОВА: НОВЫЕ ВЫЗОВЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РОССИЙСКО-АФРИКАНСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА

Статья посвящена визиту министра иностранных дел России СВЛаврова в Анголу, Намибию, Мозамбик, Зимбабве и Эфиопию. Автор приходит к выводу, что один из векторов российской внешней политики медленно поворачивается в сторону Черного континента. Африканские страны к югу от Сахары (АЮС) стали зоной, которая по темпам развития, росту роли и влияния в мировой экономике и политике стремительно начала приближаться к «восходящим» странам с развивающейся рыночной экономикой, в частности БРИКС. В целом, визит С.В.Лаврова, продемонстрировавший растущий интерес РФ к Африке, безусловно, придаст мощный импульс развитию российско-африканских отношений

LAVROV''S AFRICAN TOUR: NEW CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES FOR RUSSIAN COOPERATION WITH AFRICA

The article provides a background analysis in connection with the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia S.V.Lavrov to Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia in March 2018. The author comes to the conclusion that one of the vectors of the Russian foreign policy is slowly shifting towards the «Black continent». Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has become a zone approaching the status of emerging market economies, in particular the BRICS, in what refers to the pace of their development, the increase of their role and influence in the world economy and politics. The old-time views about Africa being a continent of total backwardness and extreme poverty no longer correspond to reality. Today the global centers of power recognize the exclusive economic importance of the Africa. In the present century the continent will be the most dynamically developing region of the world. The character and the economic growth in the developed states, as well as the procurement of raw materials, energy resources and human capital will largely depend on the African sources. Mr. S.V.Lavrov's visit reconfirmed Russia's growing interest in Africa. It will undoubtedly give a powerful impetus to the development of Russian-African relations. Almost all African officials showed friendly attitude towards our country, many of them condemned the US hegemonistic policy in the world and in the region. At the same time, Africans still perceive Russia as a positive alternative to the West, and now also to China. Voices are heard that it is a good time for Moscow to capitalize on the paramount respect and authority that Russia acquired through its actions in the Middle East. Africans hope that Russia is ready to provide financial and military assistance on the same preferential terms, as the Soviet Union did in its time. It is necessary to clearly define short and long term priorities in Africa, to seek new forms and mechanisms for interaction, and, most importantly, to develop a new state strategy on the African direction.